Toy.



No. 798,750. PATENTED SEPT. 5, 1905. J. G. SINCLAIR.

TOY.

APPLIOATIDN FILED JUNE 11,1904.

ATTORNEY JOHN G. SINCLAIR, OF EAST ORANGE, NEIV JERSEY.

TOY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 5, 1905 Application filed June 11, 1904. Serial No. 212,065.

To It whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN G. SINCLAIR, a subject of the King of England, residing at East Orange, county of Essex, and State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and amusing Toy, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to anew and amusing toy, and has for its object to provide a tank filled with water in which a toy boat is placed and to provide means below the water-line for the guiding of said boat in its movements.

\Yith these ends in view this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, the construction and operation will now be described in detail, referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through my improved toy; Fig. 2, a crosssection through a portion of the tank, showing the'boat in elevation; Fig. 3, a plan view of the tank.

A represents the boat, which may be propelled either by electric power, steam, springmotor, or the like or by fans operated by hand or otherwise.

B is the tank in which the boat is adapted to float, said tank adapted to be partially filled with water. Extending upward from the bottom of the tank is a thin strip of metal or any other suitable material C, which may be arranged in any configuration desired.

1) is a fork secured to the bottom of the boat and extending downward therefrom adapted to straddle the strip O. The stem of the fork is bifurcated, the said bifurcation extending in opposite directions and being secured to the boat-bottom. The prongs of the fork I) may have the series of alining points E pressed inward from the same to reduce the friction against the strip C. These points are formed intermediate the length of the prongs and not only offer antifriction means, but present means whereby a rocking motion is allowed the boat which greatly enhances the effect. It is to be observed that this rocking motion is permitted by the points contacting with the strips. The points are adapted to engage the opposite sides of the strip O intermediate its height. Upon the position or location of the points E depends the amount or extent of the lateral movement of the boat.

The object of the strip C is to guide the boat A in its movements, and therefore the strip O can be formed in any shape desired as, for instance, with a sail-boat the strip could be formed as shown in Fig. 3 and the boat in its movements would have the appearance of tacking along one leg and sailing with the wind along the other---or, if desired, two similar strips could be used running parallel with one another of exactly the same length and curvature, so as to provide almost perfect conditions for racing.

This device will provide an especially attractive toy, as all the guiding device is underneath the water, and by mixing a little coloring-matter with the water the guides will be invisible, and by this means the boat can be used in a smaller tank than where the user would have to depend entirely upon the boat being steered by a rudder.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction here shown, as slight modifications could be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a boat with a tank containing water in which the boat is adapted to float, a strip extending upwardly from the bottom of the tank and arranged in any predeterminedconfiguration, a fork secured to the bottom of the boat centrally its width and depending therefrom adapted to straddle said strip, and a series of alining points formed on the opposing faces of the prongs of the fork, positioned intermediate the length thereof and adapted to contact with the strip intermediate its height.

2. In a device of the character described, a

tank for water, a boat adapted to float therein, a trackway within the tank, and a fork, the stern of the fork being bifurcated, the bifurcation extending in opposite directions and being secured to the boat, the prongs of the fork being adapted to straddle the trackway.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOlilN (it. SINCLAIR.

\Vitnesses:

DANIEL O. I-lmonnox, WVILLIAu SINCLAIR, 

